Cushioned heel for shoes



Nov. 11, 1930. w, M, COHAN ET AL 1,780,997

CUSHIONED HEEL FOR SHOE'S Original Filed June 5, 1929 m Mu; aet M atzanQ TTO NEY Patented Nov. 11, 1930 {UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE" WILLIAM H. OOHAN AND MICHAEL N. RATZA'N, 0F BROOKLYN, YORK oUsHioNED HEEL FOB SHOES Application filed June 5, 1929, Serial This invention relates to shoe heels, and particularly to the provision of cushioning means arranged in the heel ininterposed relation to the shoe heel and heel of the foot, and adapted to not only absorb the shock transmitted to the heel of the foot and from the heel to the body by the impact of the heel with the ground in walking, but also to compensate for varying forces of the shock of impact in walking as well as in standing,as distinguished from the type of cushioning means applied to thesurface of the shoe heel to directly engage the surface walked upon, and it is the primary object of the invention to provide improved cushioning means for heels of this character which is simple in construction and efficiently produce the result sought.

While we are aware that in cushioning means for heels of this character it hasbeen proposed to arrange the same in interposed relation to the heel of the shoe and foot and consisting of either a padof yielding material, such as rubber, or such a pad inconjunction with springs, they are constructed and arranged whereby the resistance forces to the pressure of the heel of the foot are substantially equal for all portions of the cushioning means with the result that while they cushion the impact of the shoe heel coming in contact with the ground there nevertheless is a shock transmitted to the body and they do not function to cushion and absorb the shock of impact imparted to the forward part of the heel of the foot as the ball of the foot engages the ground in walking.

It is a further object of the invention to overcome the above disadvantages and provide cushioning means to be applied to a shoe heel in the form of a pad having greater resiliency about the marginal portion and particularly at the rear and forward portions of the heel, and adapted to more readily absorb the shock of the impact of the rear portion of the shoe heel coming in contact with the ground in walking, cushion the median portion of the heel as the forward or ball portion of the foot is brought into engagement with the ground, and absorb the No. 368,652. Renewed April 4; 1930.,

shock of impact of the ball of the foot en-l gaging with the ground and transmitted to the forward portion of the heel of the foot.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a recess in the shoe engaging surface of the heel, a block or pad of resilient material, preferably rubber, shaped to correspond to the recess being arranged in said recess in interposed relation to the shoe heel and inner sole of the shoe, the pad being arranged and provided with means to add greater resiliency thereto at the marginal portion of the pad and particularly rearwardly and'forwardly of the median portion thereof. This is produced by perforating the marginal portion of the pad and'arranging the perforations in a particular manner and engaging springs 1n certaln of the perforations of greater resiliency than the material of the pad to compensate and equalize the forces of the pressure of the heel of the foot coming in contact with the pad.

While the improved cushioning means has been illustrated and willbe described in connection with. a heel for woinens shoes and constructed of one piece, such as wood, it will be obvious that the invention is not limited to said use but is also applicable to heels built up of layers'of leather, and to the heels of shoes for children and men.

In the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this application Figure 1 is an elevational view of a heel, partly in section, and showing our improved cushioning means applied thereto and showing the heel in relation to a portion of a shoe, the section of the cushioning means being taken'on theline 11 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a View looking at the top of the cushioning means. i

Figure 3 is a view looking atthe bottom of the cushioning means.

Figure 4 is a sectional vieW taken on the line 4- 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a resilient core arranged in springs in certain perforations in the pad; and r a Figure 6 is a side elevation of a spring arranged in the pad perforations.

i r The embodimentof 'thefcushioning means illustrated comprisesa pad 7 of resilient material, preferably rubber, engaged in a recess 8 arrangedin the side of the heel 9 engaging -with the shoe 10, shown in a conventional manner and only so much being shown as is essential toanunderstanding of the invention. f'lheinvention is shown lapplied iit'o heel of the onepiece type, usually of wood covered with a suitable material. 1 The heel recess =8 and pad "conform substantially. in

shape'with one face of the pad substantially rtion ,of the pad. ,The forces ofthe pres- I and the inner surface of the bottom of the shoe and confinedwithin the" heel recess by the sole or the inner'sole of thefshoe;

' V 1- To renderthe marginal portion of the pad,

particularly at'the rear and/forward of the median; portion, more resilienta series of transverse perforations are j. arranged abouttheimarginal portion of thepad. Ger

tainof the-,perforations as indicated at 11, are extended through the g I angle to the .face thereof, while others at the rear and opposite side portions of the pad, such I as 11, and. arranged alternately fwith the perforations 11v are extended through the pad at anoblique angle to the face offthe padandin a direction from the marginal-portion to the median" portion of the padjto render the portions of the pad betweenthe perforations 11 more yielding. The; forward end of the pad extends in a strai-ghtl-ine transverselynof the pad'and the perforations 11' atsaid end ,of-the' padare arranged in alinement-parallel withsaid end of the pad and extendthroughthe pad ata right angle to the face thereof. The perfov rationsill alternating with the oblique perforations lll have .coiled compression springs 12 engaged therein to-be confined between the wall of the'heelrecess'andfthe sole or inner sole of the shoetbsaid springs having greater resiliency than the material of the pad. Preferably only: the intermediate per.-

forati on at the forward end of the he'el is provided with a spring 12, although in some instances it may be desirable tohave springs arranged. in each of; said perforations. The

springs-'12 are provided with guiding andpositioning cores 13 in; the form of plugsof resilient material, such as rubber,,and hav:

ing greater resiliencythan the material of the pad or spring. The intermediate p rtion of such cores 13 are of less cross sectional area than at the ends whereby togcom- .pensateforthe spreading or flexing of the cores as the springs are compressed.

"Inthe use of the cushlonmg means as described the "ball of thetheelof the foot in standing will be equalized onthe central or median portion of the pad'and cushioned pad at a right portion of the pad.

ing upon the rear marginal portion of the pad and as the shoe heel engages with the ground the shock of theimpact thereof will be absorbedin the, spring 12 and partially r in the springcores or plugs '13. As. the foot is rocked or moved on therear portion of the heelin them'ovement of thefoot in enagingiitheiball of the foot witlrtheground file ball o'f'the heel wiuenga e themedi'an r "and less yielding portion ofthe pad, and as the belief thejfoot engages ;the1 gr;ou-nd the shock of-the impact thereof will be absorbed inthe springs 12 and forward perforated 7 terial conforming to the shapeof the recess 1 and arranged ,with. perforation s, about the marginal portion. thereof, and 'springsjhav ing greater resiliency than the material of the pad arranged in alternate "perforations confined between the shoe and the bottom wall ofthehe el'r ecessl I v c s 2. Cushioning neans. for heelsof shoes as claimed in claim 15 wherein the. springs are arranged with cores of yielding material having greater resiliency than the springs.

' 3. GUSlllOIllIig means'for heels of shoes as claimed inclairnjl, wherein certain of the perforations are extended'throughthe pad at I an oblique angle I J e Y r 4:. Cushioning means a for heels of shoes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the perforations inwhich the springs are engaged extend Y through the pad at a right angle to the face of the pad, and the perforations alternating with-the spring engaging perforations at the rea-rand opposite sides of the pad are extended through the pad at an oblique angle to the surface of thepad'andj' xtend in a directionfrom the marginal to the median '5..In combinationwlth a'shoe, a shoeheel havingja recess in the shoe, engaging side thereof, and cushioning meansj arranged in t-he'heel recess comprisingyielding1y comfpressible, means having greater-compress? bility andresiliency about the marginal portion of the heel than medianportion 7 thereof. i

' WILLIAM'MQ'COHAN. V MICHAEL BATZAN, f

thereby. In walking the rear portion of the V I heel is first brought into engagement with the ground withthe weight ofthe body com- I 

